True, Newcastle were the better team of what was not the best Premier League match you will ever see. But they still need to do more to get this season up and running.

Pardew said: “We had really good control of the game, particularly in the second half. I felt that we absolutely dominated and just couldn’t find the moment.

“You could almost see Remy Cabella trying too hard to force that moment. You can’t really do that in football as you have to let the moment come to you.

“He got a lot of publicity last week and I felt he was a bit tense. He will get it and he will create things for us.

“I am pleased with the team and I think there is a good solid base.

“We do know we need to threaten with goals and then that will win us games. There were a lot of good signs again but we still haven’t scored yet and that will be hanging over us. We know that.

“However, I think everyone in this room, who has a knowledge of football, knows we have a good, solid team there. It’s just about getting the goals.”

Pardew was left to rue a number of missed chances, none more so than when Siem de Jong didn’t score in the dying minutes when he was clean through on Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.

He said: “In training, he would put them in nine out of 10 times. It was a satisfactory performance, but it’s disappointing not to win. We pulled them round the park and passed around them. It’s just a shame that we couldn’t find that moment to have a special day.

“There is a strong work ethic in the group. There is an honesty about us and we play good football. We encourage them to be brave on the ball.

“We did that away from home and that stands us in good stead for the other away games.”

Pardew felt sorry for Mike Williamson who actually played well despite missing a decent chance of his own and then getting sent off in the last minute.

The manager said: “The first one is a foul, but whether it was a booking, I’m not so sure. At the second, he knew he was in trouble and I felt sorry for him because I thought he played really well.”